Optical fiber polishing apparatus

Abstract

A polishing apparatus is provided for polishing an optical fiber connector. The optical fiber connector includes a connector housing and a ferrule. The polishing apparatus includes a mount to receive and hold the optical connector and a polisher housing supported by a base. The polisher housing houses a polisher that comprises a platen that supports a polishing media, the platen being coupled to a planetary gear system. The mount is disposed on a cover that encloses the polisher housing when the cover is placed in a closed position. A rotatable knob is exposed at an opening of the base, the rotatable knob being engaged with the planetary gear system to move the planetary gear system. The polishing media is disposed proximate to a fiber tip extending from an end face of the ferrule of the optical connector disposed in the mount when the cover is placed in the closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A polishing apparatus for polishing an optical fiber connector, the optical fiber connector including a connector housing and a ferrule, comprising:
 a mount to receive and hold the optical connector; 
 a polisher housing to house a polisher that comprises a platen that supports a polishing media, the platen being coupled to a planetary gear system, wherein the mount is disposed on a cover that encloses the polisher housing when the cover is placed in a closed position; 
 a base to support the polisher housing, wherein a rotatable input knob is accessible at a portion of the base, the rotatable input knob being engaged with the planetary gear system to move the planetary gear system, wherein the polishing media is disposed proximate to a fiber tip extending from an end face of the ferrule of the optical connector disposed in the mount when the cover is placed in the closed position; and 
 a press-activatable interlock button, wherein the interlock button is depressed to release the rotatable input knob and permit rotation of the rotatable input knob for a predetermined rotation until the interlock is re-engaged to prevent further rotation. 
 
     
     
       2. The polishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one or more compliant backing pads are disposed between the polishing media and the platen. 
     
     
       3. The polishing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more compliant backing pads comprise a first compliant backing pad disposed between the polishing media and a second compliant backing pad. 
     
     
       4. The polishing apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first compliant backing pad has a thickness of about 0.8 mm and a hardness of about 60 to about 80 (Shore A) and the second compliant backing pad has a thickness of about 3 mm and a hardness of about 30 to about 50 (Shore 00). 
     
     
       5. The polishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber tip experiences a contact force of from about 100 grams force to about 150 grams force when the optical connector is disposed in the mount and the cover is placed in the closed position. 
     
     
       6. The polishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the polisher housing and the base are integrally formed as a single unit. 
     
     
       7. The polishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is held in the mount at a predetermined angle, the predetermined angle providing for one of a flat polish that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fiber and an angled polish. 
     
     
       8. The polishing apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the angled polish comprises an angle from perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fiber and an angled polish from about 2° to about 12°. 
     
     
       9. The polishing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a ratchet coupled to the rotatable input knob to permit only one direction of rotation. 
     
     
       10. The polishing apparatus of  claim 1 , where in the optical fiber connector is a remote grip optical fiber connector. 
     
     
       11. The polishing apparatus of  claim 1 , where in the optical fiber connector is a multi-fiber optical fiber connector. 
     
     
       12. A polishing apparatus for polishing an optical fiber connector, the optical fiber connector including a connector housing and a ferrule, comprising:
 a mount to receive and hold the optical connector; 
 a polisher housing to house a polisher that comprises a platen that supports a polishing media, the platen being coupled to a planetary gear system, wherein the mount is disposed on a cover that encloses the polisher housing when the cover is placed in a closed position; 
 a base to support the polisher housing, wherein a rotatable input knob is accessible at a portion of the base, the rotatable input knob being engaged with the planetary gear system to move the planetary gear system, wherein the polishing media is disposed proximate to a fiber tip extending from an end face of the ferrule of the optical connector disposed in the mount when the cover is placed in the closed position; and 
 a ratchet coupled to the rotatable input knob to permit only one direction of rotation. 
 
     
     
       13. The polishing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein one or more compliant backing pads are disposed between the polishing media and the platen. 
     
     
       14. The polishing apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more compliant backing pads comprise a first compliant backing pad disposed between the polishing media and a second compliant backing pad. 
     
     
       15. The polishing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first compliant backing pad has a thickness of about 0.8 mm and a hardness of about 60 to about 80 (Shore A) and the second compliant backing pad has a thickness of about 3 mm and a hardness of about 30 to about 50 (Shore 00). 
     
     
       16. The polishing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the fiber tip experiences a contact force of from about 100 grams force to about 150 grams force when the optical connector is disposed in the mount and the cover is placed in the closed position. 
     
     
       17. The polishing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the polisher housing and the base are integrally formed as a single unit. 
     
     
       18. The polishing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the connector is held in the mount at a predetermined angle, the predetermined angle providing for one of a flat polish that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fiber and an angled polish. 
     
     
       19. The polishing apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the angled polish comprises an angle from perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fiber and an angled polish from about 2° to about 12°.